FEATURE: Make Your Cubicle Healthy

Written by Kathryn Savage

Your inbox is out of control, you haven’t had a day off since spring break (and that was college), and your voicemail is full. Oh, yeah, there is a meeting in thirty minutes and you’re giving a presentation. Stressed? Of course, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be healthy. Work can be stressful and that’s why it’s important to reinforce your work space, and your work life, with as many healthy options as possible.

Hydrate
Drink lots of water and antioxidant rich green tea (unsweetened and fresh brewed), to stay hydrated at the office.

Nuts
Keep a stash of nuts in your desk drawer. Nuts are loaded with healthy fats and may improve cardiovascular health.

Brown bag it!
Instead of going out to eat, bring your lunch. You’ll be saving money, saving calories, and you’ll be able to make healthy eating a normal part of your afternoon.

Snack!
Include a healthy snack like a bag of sliced apples. If you have access to a fridge at your office, bring a yogurt which is rich in calcium and good for healthy digestion.

Sit up!
Sit comfortably in your desk. Slouching and typing away with poor form can have negative affects on your back and your wrists. Take breaks, get out of your chair, and be sure to stand and sit tall!

Skip the car!
If you live within a few miles of your office, ride your bike. If biking is not realistic, take the stairs. Centenarians living in the regions of the world identified as Blue Zones, make moving a mindless part of their day, everyday. And you should too!

Work with a sense of purpose.
Find a job where you feel you are using your talents and skills and providing a good service. A sense of purpose is not only important for your mental health and personal satisfaction, it’s an important factor that promotes longevity.

Come on get happy!
Happy hours are a great way to connect, socialize and transition between work and home. It doesn’t have to be with coworkers, it can be with friends who work near by, neighbors, family or friends. And it doesn’t have to include alcohol. Sure, grab a glass of your favorite wine, studies suggest that a drink or two a day is good for you, overall. But more than that, studies also point to personal connections and friendships as being a very important factor for living a healthy, long life.

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